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Rakotozandrindrainy R, Rakotoarivelo RA, Kislaya I, Marchese V, Rasamoelina T, Solonirina J, Ratiaharison EF, Razafindrakoto R, Razafindralava NM, Rakotozandrindrainy N, Radomanana M, Andrianarivelo MR, Klein P, Lorenz E, Jaeger A, Hoekstra PT, Corstjens PLAM, Schwarz NG, van Dam GJ, May J, Fusco D. Schistosome infection among pregnant women in the rural highlands of Madagascar: A cross-sectional study calling for public health interventions in vulnerable populations. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011766. [PMID: 38626192 PMCID: PMC11051649 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with Madagascar being among the countries with highest burden of the disease worldwide. Despite WHO recommendations, suggesting treatment of pregnant women after the first trimester, this group is still excluded from Mass Drug Administration programs. Our study, had the objective to measure the prevalence of schistosome infection among pregnant women in Madagascar in order to inform public health policies for treatment in this vulnerable population. METHODS Women were recruited for this cross-sectional study between April 2019 and February 2020 when attending Antenatal Care Services (ANCs) at one of 42 included Primary Health Care Centers. The urine-based upconverting reporter particle, lateral flow (UCP-LF) test detecting circulating anodic antigen was used for the detection of schistosome infections. To identify factors associated with the prevalence of schistosome infection crude and adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% CIs were estimated using mixed-effect Poisson regression. RESULTS Among 4,448 participating women aged between 16 and 47 years, the majority (70.4%, 38 n = 3,133) resided in rural settings. Overall, the prevalence of schistosome infection was 55.9% (n = 2486, CI 95%: 53.3-58.5). A statistically significant association was found with age group (increased prevalence in 31-47 years old, compared to 16-20 years old (aPR = 1.15, CI 95%: 1.02-1.29) and with uptake of antimalaria preventive treatment (decreased prevalence, aPR = 0.85, CI 95%: 0.77-0.95). No other associations of any personal characteristics or contextual factors with schistosome infection were found in our multivariate regression analysis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The high prevalence of schistosome infection in pregnant women supports the consideration of preventive schistosomiasis treatment in ANCs of the Malagasy highlands. We strongly advocate for adapting schistosomiasis programs in highly endemic contexts. This, would contribute to both the WHO and SDGs agendas overall to improving the well-being of women and consequently breaking the vicious cycle of poverty perpetuated by schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Irina Kislaya
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Valentina Marchese
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mickael Radomanana
- Infectious diseases service, University Hospital Tambohobe, Fianarantsoa, Madagascar
| | | | - Philipp Klein
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Eva Lorenz
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Anna Jaeger
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | | | | | - Norbert Georg Schwarz
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen May
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
| | - Daniela Fusco
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Germany
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